Chapter 1137: The Studies of the Younger Generation

Liu Ba, filled with the ambition to achieve greatness, began dedicating himself to furthering Cao Cao’s cause. Of course, when Guan Yu saw Liu Ba appear in court, sitting behind Cao Cao, his displeasure was clear and no longer concealed.

However, Liu Ba could only offer an apology to Guan Yu, expressing that he would repay the favor when the opportunity arose. Despite this, Liu Ba did not favor Liu Bei, and he disliked the young and accomplished Chen Xi just as much. But such feelings were only natural.

In particular, after Liu Ba realized Chen Xi’s methods, even though he was about to employ similar tactics, he still believed that such methods were deceiving the world. To Liu Ba, no matter how effective these deceptions were, they could never be considered honorable.

When Chen Xi received news about Liu Ba, he didn’t feel much of anything. After all, it was just Liu Ba—not an important figure. As for Liu Ba’s proficiency in economics, Chen Xi didn’t think there was much to admire.

After all, Chen Xi’s grasp of economics was not lacking, and he was well aware of the potential pitfalls that could arise from a thriving commercial sector. But he also knew better than Liu Ba how to manage these powerful merchants.

Even scoundrels, when used correctly, could provide value. In this world, nothing is truly worthless—at most, it's because people don't know how to use it, or ethics and morals prevent its use, leaving it labeled as trash.

As the New Year approached, the dishes on Chen Xi's dining table increased with the variety of festive foods. However, Fan Jian and Chen Lan, both having other matters, took their meals back to their rooms, and Chen Yun was also called away. Chen Xi was left dining alone with Lu Xun.

"Bo Yan, what do you think of your fellow student’s policy essay?" Chen Xi, not too strict about observing the rule of silence during meals, asked after taking a few bites.

Lu Xun quickly swallowed his food, put down his chopsticks, straightened his posture, and replied, "Master, Zi Jia and I have seen and experienced similar things, but our policy essays are quite different. Zi Jia focuses on the bureaucratic system, while I emphasize the conflicts among different social classes."

Chen Xi nodded. Seeing Lu Xun sitting so upright and serious, he couldn’t adopt a more casual attitude. "So, whose view is correct?"

"At first, I thought my policy essay was superior to Zi Jia’s. But now, I realize that both of us are wrong," Lu Xun said slowly, prompting a faint smile from Chen Xi.

Though slightly uneasy, Lu Xun sincerely believed that both he and Lu Yu had issues with their essays. They had different focuses, leading to different conclusions, but neither had taken a comprehensive view of the bigger picture. Both essays were one-sided, and strategies and policies should always prioritize the broader perspective.

Elsewhere, Jia Xu, who had recently gotten rid of Zi Xu with some clever trickery, was sipping tea and asking Lu Yu the same question. Jia Xu was quite pleased with Lu Yu, though he found him somewhat sly. However, if someone could outmaneuver Jia Xu himself, that too was a skill.

"I heard you’ve read Lu Bo Yan’s essay as well. What do you think?" Jia Xu asked as his daughter refilled his tea and also served a cup to Lu Yu.

"He focuses on class conflicts, while I focus on existing systems, primarily on the bureaucratic structure," Lu Yu replied, his tone respectful, exuding a sense of national concern, quite different from his usual mischievous behavior.

Jia Xu took a sip of tea, showing no particular interest in Lu Yu's words. His response was indifferent, as if it meant nothing to him. "Which of you do you think is right?"

"Both of us are correct," Lu Yu said after a brief moment of thought.

Jia Xu set down his cup without saying anything, while Lu Yu felt a bit anxious. However, he stood by his belief that neither he nor Lu Xun was wrong—both were contributing to the necessary aspects of governance, and Lu Xun's policy essay had no faults either.

"The day after tomorrow is the New Year’s celebration. Tomorrow, you can take a break. When you meet with Lu Bo Yan, you'll understand," Jia Xu said, expressionless.

"Your disciple takes his leave," Lu Yu said, bowing and slowly retreating.

[Tomorrow, Lu Bo Yan and Lu Zi Jia will probably end up fighting. Should I invite Zi Chuan to watch these two duke it out?] Jia Xu mischievously thought to himself.

Jia Xu didn’t need to guess to know that Lu Xun would most likely say both he and Lu Yu were wrong. Their different areas of study would inevitably lead them to different conclusions.

Lu Yu had been taught the art of political maneuvering, which emphasized finding common ground and managing differences, while Lu Xun had been taught to strategize from a broader perspective. However, Lu Xun was still young and couldn’t fully grasp such a large-scale approach. Despite this, he could at least discern right from wrong.

After evaluating each other’s work, Lu Xun would undoubtedly conclude that neither he nor Lu Yu had considered the bigger picture, thus both were wrong. On the other hand, Lu Yu would argue that he and Lu Xun had both identified the issues, and if their views were combined, they would have the correct solution—so neither was wrong.

In Lu Yu's view, anyone on his side was right, and if they were not wrong, they were inherently correct. This was the essence of political correctness.

When Lu Yu and Lu Xun met tomorrow, they were sure to debate the issue, which would likely lead to a fight. However, once they had their confrontation, they would finally understand the lesson that Chen Xi and Jia Xu were trying to impart—that when judging others based on your own perspective, it’s crucial to consider if the other person is coming from a different standpoint.

When Zhuge Liang visited Li You’s residence, Cai Yan happened to be there as well. Just like last year, Li You received a new set of clothes for the year, made of hemp, silk, brocade, and velvet, suitable for all seasons.

"Greetings, Master Li, Miss Cai," Zhuge Liang respectfully bowed first, followed by Huang Yueying, who also paid her respects.

It’s worth mentioning that any woman who had time would attend Cai Yan's lectures. Since Cai Yan never repeated herself, there was always something new to learn each time. After moving to Taishan, Huang Yueying would often attend these lectures whenever she had the chance, despite being quite accomplished herself. Indeed, each person had their own area of expertise.

"Greetings, Zhuge Zhi Zhong, and Yueying," Cai Yan responded with a cool and calm demeanor before bowing to Li You, saying, "I have disturbed you for long, Uncle. I hope you can forgive me."

Li You nodded, instructing his daughter to escort Cai Yan to her carriage while he stayed behind to host Zhuge Liang.

Li You had great admiration for Zhuge Liang. At one point, he had even considered marrying his daughter to him, but after learning that Zhuge Liang was already engaged, the plan fell through. How could Li You’s legitimate daughter be anything other than a proper wife?

Even so, this didn’t affect Li You’s commitment to mentoring Zhuge Liang. Li You’s knowledge was vast, covering topics from military tactics, strategy, governance, and political maneuvering.

Though he wasn’t a master of any single field, he was proficient in all, even in some obscure topics like formations and esoteric techniques. Such a broad range of knowledge made Li You the perfect mentor for a versatile genius like Zhuge Liang, with one eager to teach and the other eager to learn. Both felt a strong rapport with each other.

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